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City Manager Office <br />www.santa-ana.org/cm <br />Item # 22 <br />City of Santa Ana <br />20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701 <br /> Staff Report <br />March 1, 2022 <br />TOPIC: State Legislative Advocacy Services <br />AGENDA TITLE: <br />Approve Agreement with Townsend Public Affairs for State Legislative Advocacy <br />Services <br />RECOMMENDED ACTION <br />Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Townsend Public Affairs for <br />State legislative advocacy services for a three-year term, from March 1, 2022 through <br />February 28, 2025, with an option to extend the term for an additional one-year period, <br />for a four-year not-to-exceed amount of $252,000, subject to non-substantive changes <br />approved by the City Manager and City Attorney. <br />DISCUSSION <br />Local governments rely on the expertise of state legislative advocacy firms to represent <br />their respective government agencies in Sacramento. This service includes legislative <br />monitoring and analysis, state budget advocacy, and grant coordination, and advocacy. <br />These firms also provide monitoring of executive proposals and legislation, as well as <br />administrative rules and regulations that may affect cities. Legislative advocacy services <br />are also essential in identifying funding opportunities, grant applications and other special <br />programs for which the City may qualify. <br />Competitive Request for Qualifications Process <br />On February 2, 2021, City staff released a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to solicit <br />proposals for state legislative advocacy services (Exhibit 1). The RFQ provided an <br />overview of the state legislative advocacy services the City desired, which included the <br />following scope of services: <br />1.HELP SET LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES: Work with the City Council, the City <br />Manager, and other City staff to discuss goals, objectives, opportunities and <br />priorities. <br />2.ADVOCATE ON THE CITY’S BEHALF: Advocate the City’s position to members <br />of the State Assembly, State Senate, State agencies, and other interested parties. <br />Identify opportunities for elected officials and City officials to participate in the